Battle of France – Dragon Porte VB Group – unit size

[MRenye]

Hi all,

The latest rules errata on page 25 (3-Feb-2020), states that the French VB Group is comprised of 1 NCO, and 3 men.

Weapons are listed as “Rifles with VB launchers

120 Points

Q1 – Is there any option to increase the unit size (I would assume 30 points per additional “Regular” man if allowed)?

Q2 – Does the NCO also count as being armed with a VB?

 

Before the FAQ was released, I managed to field a unit of 1 NCO and 4 VB armed men.

It was a very effective little firebase that managed to drop a fair amount of smoke, and also kill 1 or 2 enemies and nicely pin that unit.

But I could see how a much larger unit could be a little TOO effective, so the size limitation is likely deliberate.

 

Many thanks!

[Stuart Harrison]

1. No.  Nothing stops house rules if you negotiate it with your opponent but if nothing in the entry allows you to add more men – by the rules, no more men.

2.  The weapons line applies to all models in a unit entry unless specifically stated otherwise.  Nothing different is stated for the NCO so he is armed as per the rest of the unit.

[Paul Nettle]

Please forgive my ignorance, but on which page of “Armies of France and the Allies” is the VB group described?  It seems far more historical than issuing one per squad.

[MRenye]

The VB Group is found in the “Battle of France” Campaign book. Page 85.

There are a number of additional units that are added, including the VB, but also more options for the Dragons Porte, Intelligence Squads, Engineers, Officer Cadets, etc, and more AMC variants.

[Paul Nettle]

Many thanks, I have looked it up.  It is a shame it is just the Dragons Porte can do that, becuase I belive normal paltoons did that too.  I only have ordinary platoons, not Dragona Portes, but I believe some companies do Dragons Portes troops which sadly Warlord Games don’t.

[MRenye]

I agree on the point that most units should be allowed the option to split off their VB’s.

As to Dragons Porte, I use the normal Warlord French models. There are other manufacturers as you say, but I don’t think they are quality enough to buy.

And the other company have chosen the shorter coat as opposed to the long jacket since I believe they are trying to model them as motorcycle troops?

I believe the uniforms of other DP units (in carrier or trucks) was very similar to the regular French uniform (from my reading), which is why I just use those.

[MRenye]

Thanks.

Before the FAQ was released it was not clear on the unit size which is why I went with the five man section (1 NCO+4)

I do believe a larger unit would be a little excessive historically as well as perhaps unbalanced.

And I choose to have four units of other Dragons Porte from which to pull those VB’s for reassignment.

 

Thanks again!

[Paul Nettle]

Thanks for your research – I found pictures of Dragons Porte frustratingly difficult to find.  But it might be fun to do a motorcycle unit to add to my French – despite already haveing all six infantry squads.  I shall have to finish the Vichy French desert army first though.

[HellRaiser 7]

Thanx for posting the VB question. I have a pretty big Early War French Army and haven’t used any VBs cause didn’t think they would be effective. Now I think I’m going to have field a VB unit. Especially with throwing smoke out there.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by HellRaiser 7. Reason: Misspelling

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